LOCAL NEWS | OCTOBER 10, 2019

Two years ago, the Department of Justice announced the revitalization and enhancement of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the department’s violent crime reduction strategy. The evidence-based program focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders, and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime. According to the FBI’s Uniform Crime Report released last week, the violent crime rate decreased for the second consecutive year, down 3.9 percent from the 2017 numbers. Violent crime in Pennsylvania decreased from more than 40,000 (40,030) events in 2017 to just over 39,000 (39,192) events in 2018. Violent crimes include murder and non-negligent manslaughter, rape, aggravated assault, and property crime. Project Safe Neighborhoods brings together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. To learn more about Project Safe Neighborhoods, go to www.justice.gov/psn.

A Huntingdon County man was charged with drug possession earlier this month when he reached into his pocket for a cell phone. The incident took place October 1st at the Dollar General on East Shirley Street in Mount Union. State Police say 35-year-old Jonathan Fahrnow of Mount Union accidentally dropped a bag of crystal meth while removing the phone from his pocket. He left the store unaware the drugs had fallen to the ground.